While local and state permits are pursued independent of each other, Moretown Landfill must secure both before it can begin construction of a fourth trash cell that would extend the landfill’s life by 15 to 18 years.

Over the past couple of weeks, the Moretown Development Review Board (DRB) has held regular hearings with residents regarding the landfill’s proposed expansion. But no matter how far the project progresses at a local level, at the state level, according to Ben Gauthier of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Solid Waste Division, the company’s application to construct a fourth trash cell is still “technically incomplete.”

“The applicant still needs to demonstrate to us that they can meet groundwater protection standards, as well as offset odors,” Gauthier said. He has been communicating with Moretown Landfill “pretty much on a daily basis” to explain how they can work towards meeting these standards, “but right now there are so many things still up in the air,” Gauthier said.

Meanwhile, the Act 250 Commission is waiting on the ANR’s approval before it can move forward in the land use and development permit approval process.

The Commission held a pre-hearing conference earlier this fall to assess parties’ interest in the project, “and a lot of people came,” Act 250 assistant district coordinator, Susan Baird, said. From this response the Commission decided it would be best for residents to submit written responses in order to gain party status, and the Commission is considering those requests before issuing a pre-hearing conference order.